Tom Doyle
There’s a lot to be said for mobile phones, but jockey Paul Flynn’s was switched off when Nicky Henderson was desperately trying to contact him a couple of hours before the 2001 Grand National. Henderson was seeking a replacement rider for his runner Esprit De Cotte. Having ridden in the opening race, stable jockey Mick Fitzgerald had made a late decision to give up his Grand National mount as he had not fully recovered from the effects of a heavy first fence fall the previous day. Announcements were made over the public address but Flynn was nowhere to be found. The clock was ticking away.
There’s a lot to be said for mobile phones, but jockey Paul Flynn’s was switched off when Nicky Henderson was desperately trying to contact him a couple of hours before the 2001 Grand National. Henderson was seeking a replacement rider for his runner Esprit De Cotte. Having ridden in the opening race, stable jockey Mick Fitzgerald had made a late decision to give up his Grand National mount as he had not fully recovered from the effects of a heavy first fence fall the previous day. Announcements were made over the public address but Flynn was nowhere to be found. The clock was ticking away.
Sitting in the weighing room was 3lb-claiming conditional jockey Tom Doyle. He’d gone to Aintree solely to ride a 40-1 outsider in the bumper, the last race on the card. His prospects of riding in that year’s Grand National had seemingly evaporated the day before when the Richard Lee-trained Samuel Wilderspin had missed the cut by one.
Sitting in the weighing room was 3lb-claiming conditional jockey Tom Doyle. He’d gone to Aintree solely to ride a 40-1 outsider in the bumper, the last race on the card. His prospects of riding in that year’s Grand National had seemingly evaporated the day before when the Richard Lee-trained Samuel Wilderspin had missed the cut by one.
Luckily, Tom was one of the few jockeys there able to do ten stone, Esprit De Cotte’s allotted weight. About half an hour before the race, Tom found out that he’d be riding him. There was no time for him to think about getting nervous.
Luckily, Tom was one of the few jockeys there able to do ten stone, Esprit De Cotte’s allotted weight. About half an hour before the race, Tom found out that he’d be riding him. There was no time for him to think about getting nervous.
All went well at first; he was one of the few who avoided the melee at the Canal Turn when riderless Paddy’s Return veered violently across the fence. After that, according to Tom, the horse “stopped enjoying it quite so much. He wasn’t interested in the next two fences. Then at the big ditch, the eleventh, he’s gone to refuse and I’ve gone over his head and gone flying over the fence without him.”
All went well at first; he was one of the few who avoided the melee at the Canal Turn when riderless Paddy’s Return veered violently across the fence. After that, according to Tom, the horse “stopped enjoying it quite so much. He wasn’t interested in the next two fences. Then at the big ditch, the eleventh, he’s gone to refuse and I’ve gone over his head and gone flying over the fence without him.”
Because Tom’s father, George Doyle, was a bloodstock agent, it was natural to find horses about his home in Ininstioge, Co Kilkenny. Born on February 8, 1980, Tom grew up with them and, aged 12, spent his school holidays working for up-and-coming trainer Aidan O’Brien. On leaving school, Tom joined Aidan on a more permanent basis before moving on to spend a year with trainer Eamon (Dusty) Sheehy for whom he rode six winners.
Because Tom’s father, George Doyle, was a bloodstock agent, it was natural to find horses about his home in Ininstioge, Co Kilkenny. Born on February 8, 1980, Tom grew up with them and, aged 12, spent his school holidays working for up-and-coming trainer Aidan O’Brien. On leaving school, Tom joined Aidan on a more permanent basis before moving on to spend a year with trainer Eamon (Dusty) Sheehy for whom he rode six winners.
Tom rode his first winner, Blackburn, when riding as an amateur for Dusty Sheehy in a Fairyhouse bumper on November 5, 1997.
Tom rode his first winner, Blackburn, when riding as an amateur for Dusty Sheehy in a Fairyhouse bumper on November 5, 1997.
Then the opportunity arose for Tom to travel to England to work for Roger Curtis, who trained at Lambourn. Tom’s father had sold Curtis horses over the years and had arranged Tom’s move.
Then the opportunity arose for Tom to travel to England to work for Roger Curtis, who trained at Lambourn. Tom’s father had sold Curtis horses over the years and had arranged Tom’s move.
Tom’s first win in England came on 25-1 chance Petasus, trained by Noel Chance, in a claiming hurdle at Plumpton on Monday, September 13, 1999. It was at the same course that Tom lost his 7lb claim when winning the six-runner Credit & Guarantee Novices’ Chase on the Curtis-trained Ourownfellow on March 13, 2000.
Tom’s first win in England came on 25-1 chance Petasus, trained by Noel Chance, in a claiming hurdle at Plumpton on Monday, September 13, 1999. It was at the same course that Tom lost his 7lb claim when winning the six-runner Credit & Guarantee Novices’ Chase on the Curtis-trained Ourownfellow on March 13, 2000.
Tom then rode for Richard Lee and decided to turn professional at the end of year (2000). In February 2001, at Wetherby, he had his biggest win to date when piloting Samuel Wilderspin to a narrow victory over Banker Count in a three-mile one-furlong handicap chase.
Tom then rode for Richard Lee and decided to turn professional at the end of year (2000). In February 2001, at Wetherby, he had his biggest win to date when piloting Samuel Wilderspin to a narrow victory over Banker Count in a three-mile one-furlong handicap chase.
Tom and Samuel Wilderspin won a class 2 handicap chase at Haydock in February 2002 before finishing second in Doncaster’s Grimthorpe Chase. They were reunited for a crack at the 2002 Grand National: this time they came down at the fourth when the horse jumped too big and came down on his nose.
Tom and Samuel Wilderspin won a class 2 handicap chase at Haydock in February 2002 before finishing second in Doncaster’s Grimthorpe Chase. They were reunited for a crack at the 2002 Grand National: this time they came down at the fourth when the horse jumped too big and came down on his nose.
Tom then became stable jockey for Paul Webber, for whom he won the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown on Patricksnineteenth in 2004, but it was for trainer David Arbuthnot that he rode his biggest winner when scooting clear before the last on the 14-1 shot Oscar Park in the 2007 Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival.
Tom then became stable jockey for Paul Webber, for whom he won the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown on Patricksnineteenth in 2004, but it was for trainer David Arbuthnot that he rode his biggest winner when scooting clear before the last on the 14-1 shot Oscar Park in the 2007 Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival.
Tom returned to Ireland shortly afterwards and spent the remainder of his riding career there. His big race victories included the Galway Hurdle, Punchestown’s Gold Cup, plus a pair of Grade 1 victories on Trafford Lad for Dusty Sheehy.
Tom returned to Ireland shortly afterwards and spent the remainder of his riding career there. His big race victories included the Galway Hurdle, Punchestown’s Gold Cup, plus a pair of Grade 1 victories on Trafford Lad for Dusty Sheehy.
He rode for the final time at Navan on Saturday, 2 March 2013, when pulling up on Zardsky in the Newgrange Handicap Chase.
He rode for the final time at Navan on Saturday, 2 March 2013, when pulling up on Zardsky in the Newgrange Handicap Chase.
After riding over 270 winners, he said: “I’ve been riding for 16 years and I’ve really enjoyed it but things have gone a bit quiet lately and the time has come to do something else. I’ve a few young horses at home and hopefully I’ll have a few runners in point-to-points and see how we get on.”
After riding over 270 winners, he said: “I’ve been riding for 16 years and I’ve really enjoyed it but things have gone a bit quiet lately and the time has come to do something else. I’ve a few young horses at home and hopefully I’ll have a few runners in point-to-points and see how we get on.”
Tom Doyle’s big race winners included:
Tom Doyle’s big race winners included:
2004: Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase – Patricksnineteenth
2004: Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase – Patricksnineteenth
2007: Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle – Follow The Plan
2007: Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle – Follow The Plan
2007: Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle- Trafford Lad
2007: Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle- Trafford Lad
2008: Florida Pearl Novice Chase: Trafford Lad
2008: Florida Pearl Novice Chase: Trafford Lad
2008: Drinmore Novice Chase – Trafford Lad
2008: Drinmore Novice Chase – Trafford Lad
2011: Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup – Follow The Plan
2011: Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup – Follow The Plan
2011: Galway Hurdle – Moon Dice
2011: Galway Hurdle – Moon Dice
2012: Betfred Bowl – Follow The Plan
2012: Betfred Bowl – Follow The Plan